London.

Manawatu Herald, 12 February 1895, Page 2

London.

An icefield three miles long and a hundred yards in breadth is outside Sheerness. Numerous trains have been embedded in the snow in England, and there is much distress owing to the stoppage of trade. Skating has been indulged in at Kingston on the Thames. The sea is frozen on the Kentish coast, and it is feared that the Whitstable oyster fisheries will be greatly injured. Birds have been frozen in the branches of trees in Norfolk. Thousands of people are on the verge of perishing. The Sheerness railway has been literally buried in snow, and was twice dug out, the occupants being 14 hours without food and fire. Numerous deaths are reported daily from exposure, and the postmen, omnibus drivers, cabmen, and labourers suffer severely. Dowling, an Irish political pris« oner sentenced to imprisonment for life, has been released. . The Westminster Gazette declares it to be necessary to postone the Duke of York's visit to Australia until 1896. It is rumoured that the Prince of Naples is to be married to Princess Maude of Wales, daughter of the Princess of Wales, in May next. The steamship companies declined to accelerate the speed for the voyage to 30 days, increase the cold storage space, reduce freights, or employ only white men on board. They have agreed to call at Colombo both ways, and that mails should include parcels after Ist February next. This will mean a saving to the colonies of £1000 per annum. The Postmaster-General extends the term of the contract to two years. He will write to the colonies respecting the other proposals of the Postal Conference held at Wellington last year. Lord Brasaey's appointment a£ Governor of Victoria i 3 gazetted. Mr Fardell (Conservative) has been returned unopposed for Pad*

dington South to fill the vacancy for that seat in the House of Commons caused by the death of Lord Randolph Churchill. Mr Chamberlain has tabled a further amendment to the Address-in-Reply to the effect that it is contrary to the public interest f that Parliament should be occupied with the discussion of measures which the Ministry admit have no prospect of becoming law, while in the judgment of Parliament they ought to take proposals involving a grave constitutional change. This amendment is to be moved for the Opposition.